As the bad news is a result of the good - I'll start with the good!
The good news: I'm on the reserve list to receive a Fulbright scholarship to study in the States. The workshop I attended in London, and had to interrupt my cycling trip for, was incredibly useful, but here comes the bad news...applying to US universities and studying for the entrance (GRE) exam is going to involve a lot of work. It all needs doing in the next few weeks before I leave to go to Canada.
So after lots of tossing and turning, scribbling on my calender, counting days and mapping out different options, I've made the decision not to complete the trip right now.
Ironically it's my own education that has got in the way of my trip in aid of the Maisha Mapya Education Centre!
Although I'm disappointed that I won't be finishing it now, the trip between Land's End and Edinburgh was an amazing, varied (and mostly sunny!) 1000 kilometres. It was one of the best things I've ever done and I'm so excited that everyone's donated so generously to raise a total of more than £1000 for Maisha Mapya.
So, who wants to join me for the last leg sometime next spring/summer??
I'll be posting up a diary and pictures of the trip in the next few days.
Friday, 10 October 2008
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
Home sweet home!
I made it from Carlisle to Edinburgh today. The sign from the outskirts of Carlisle said '90 miles' to Edinburgh - so make that at least 100 'as the cycle...uhm...rides?' So incredibly tired now.
Left the guest house in Carlisle at 7.40 a.m. and arrived at 8.40 pm. 11 hours, with a total of probably 1 hour break (lunch at Scotlands own Tibetan buddhist centre - a hot chocolate about half-way through, and then a much needed ice-cream at about 4pm). It was dark and pouring with rain as I approached Edinburgh on the A7. Absolutely miserable, especially with my rain jacket which is becoming really useless. At the Cameron Toll roundabout, only a 10 minute ride from home I realised my vision was going funny and my knees were shaking. I hadn't eaten enough in the last few hours as I felt I couldn't afford to stop. I was racing against the sun going down and stopping when wet means getting very cold!
I can only imagine what any onlookers must have thought at the Cameron Toll roundabout - as I stopped, ripped open my panniers and found the nearest source of sugar I could find - gummy bears. Grabbed a handfull and stuffed them all in my mouth in one go. Once the sugar kicked in, and I'd called Emile to let him know I was nearly there and hadn't fainted just yet - I set off home. As I turned the corner towards the flat I swear I could feel my knees go weak with the thought of warmth, food, my bed - and of course seeing Emile again.
As I need to go down to London for a Fulbright info day about studying in the US - the last leg of the trip (Edinburgh - John O'Groats) will be continued in a week's time.
I'll get some pictures up soon - first about 12 hours of sleep are needed!
Left the guest house in Carlisle at 7.40 a.m. and arrived at 8.40 pm. 11 hours, with a total of probably 1 hour break (lunch at Scotlands own Tibetan buddhist centre - a hot chocolate about half-way through, and then a much needed ice-cream at about 4pm). It was dark and pouring with rain as I approached Edinburgh on the A7. Absolutely miserable, especially with my rain jacket which is becoming really useless. At the Cameron Toll roundabout, only a 10 minute ride from home I realised my vision was going funny and my knees were shaking. I hadn't eaten enough in the last few hours as I felt I couldn't afford to stop. I was racing against the sun going down and stopping when wet means getting very cold!
I can only imagine what any onlookers must have thought at the Cameron Toll roundabout - as I stopped, ripped open my panniers and found the nearest source of sugar I could find - gummy bears. Grabbed a handfull and stuffed them all in my mouth in one go. Once the sugar kicked in, and I'd called Emile to let him know I was nearly there and hadn't fainted just yet - I set off home. As I turned the corner towards the flat I swear I could feel my knees go weak with the thought of warmth, food, my bed - and of course seeing Emile again.
As I need to go down to London for a Fulbright info day about studying in the US - the last leg of the trip (Edinburgh - John O'Groats) will be continued in a week's time.
I'll get some pictures up soon - first about 12 hours of sleep are needed!
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